Cathode-ray tube



H. W- KOHLER CATHODE-RAY TUBE Feb. 3, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March '7, 1950 HHNE N. KUHLER INVENTUR #:TTEIRNEY H. W KOHLER CATHODE-RAY TUBE Feb. 3, 1953 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 7. 1950 3 2 n 3 FL F||| i IQ Q Q fi J a J m Q a n M Q Q i HHNS w. Kllkil m t Patented Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STAT ES PAT OFFICE Gram ted under litle 35, U. S. Code (1952).,

sec. 266) The invention described in the specification and claims may be manufactured and usedby for for the Government for governmental purposes, withoutthe payment to me-of any royalty thereon.

This invention-is in'cathoderaytubesandparticularly provides means for rapidly-combining certain electrical conditions representing. numerical values and indicating a mathematical sum therefor.

Otherwise considered, the apparatus indicates the condition of each of threeaelectrioal leads (whether on or ofPl inflall oi ra ser'ies. of predetermined intervals in time.

The principal. object of the invention. is,'therefore, "to provide a. cathode raytube: device for substantially instantaneously totaling certain kinds of values.

Another object of the invention is toprovl de in a cathode .ray tube means for rapidly and accurately indicating the occurrence of one of a number of possible events.

More specifically, objects of the invention are to provide simple electronic meansior performing standard and binary-scale mathematical problems.

Other objects will be apparent "from a reading of the following specificationand claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic illustrationpf tlie cathode ray tube-"of my invention;

Figure 2 illustratesthe manner in which it is possible to connect the plates or thecath'ode ray tube of my invention for certain-purposes;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic showing-of the function of one stage of an adding circuit utilizing the cathode ray tube of my invention;

Figure 4 is a diagram of the manner "in which several stages of my apparatus'mayube connected to perform binary-scale addition; and

Figure v5 shows schematically the input-output relations of a series of cathode ray tube adding units according to my invention, the amplifiers and coupling networks being omitted.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the cathode ray tube, H] of my invention is in general conventional in form, 'but that. in place of the normal two. pairs of deflecting plates it contains three sets ll'-'| 1", II-42', and l3-l3 arranged to provide radial deflection of a cathode ray beam in planes 120 apart.

The cathode ray beam generator indicated at l 5. is not of itself novel and will not be described herein. Standard focusing means for the beam are employed.

It will be seen that the target electrodes of which there are seven (1-7)v are arrangediso that six'of. theplates, 2-7, are located at the corners of a regular hexagon, with-plate l atfthe exact center thereon Diametrically opposed target .2. electrodesmre lined. upv ,ywY-ith correspondingpairs of deflectionplates.

Thesystem is so-a'diusted that, iI,,-i'or example, a. positive potential "is applied to deflecting plate. I I (all :other plates. being at,ground potential) the. electron pencil. ,will bet rented to target jthree. If, at av subsequent-time;thesame potential, is appliedato ,dcflectingmlates; l2; and I3, and, :removed from plate 1-1,; .bea m. will impinge upon target.43,;etc.

Table I indicates deflection plate potentials and the target electrodes corresponding to each combination thereof, when 1 indicates a marking or voltage impulse and 'orepresents aspaclng or no-voltage impulse.

The. tube 1 canjbe ,used- .for, thaaddition. of. three n ry-b :s g i lsaitbeinamss etnre re e numerically seven different. condi ons, orsums, Conversely, these sumsflindic te ,theconditions pf the wires. -carrying the. 011-.ofi signals.

The three signalswto. be added arebrought in on separate lines 20,; 2i, and il whichpontrol respectively the defiection of gthe ,pairs. oijplates ll--l-l'., 12-12, and I3-.-.I"3.

The operation of the tube islasafollowspWith all of the three sets of detlecting plates active, i. e., all of them ,carrying-Hrnarl; gor voltage impulses, thev oathodenray beam sa -centered on target I. The beam would-act, in exactly the same; fashionif all tln7ee;leads.,were carrying p cing or .noe e ia e a mnillse -.i tdifiere a tion. between these.twoqconditionseis'cbtained by a coupling 30 which causes;theebeam to beer;- tingljiishedfexcept whenatleastonesetvofrdeflecb ing plates isenergized.

As above .indicated,;the.beamis caused. to im;- pinge upon targets. 5, 6, and lbyccoaction of tWo, sets of deflectingplates. If.,.for;:example, lines 20 and 2! are .bothaactive, thebeamwillbe driven to target 5.. .Eachyotthe, otherpossible combinationsv of. active. and inactive. plates. determines a target for the cathode ray beam.

The. manner inrvhich theoutputaof thetube is utilizedpforms, :no part of ,theipresent invention.

Addition of binary-base numbers in different I fashion is illustrated in Figures 2-5; here, opera-v tions with larger numbers are contemplated. Consider two binary A and B which have. digits A0, A1 An and B0, B1 Bn, respectively,

where each digit represents'a different fixed quantity (conveniently, different powers of 2), and the presence or absence of the quantity in the number is indicated by a voltage impulse or a no-voltage impulse.

An, Bn, and the carry-overffrom the next lower stage, C11 1, compose the input data for the adder. Sn and Ch are the output data of the adder. Sn, the sum is the part of the -output not transferred to thenext higher stage of the adder, whereas C11 is the carry. As noted, each of the quantities An,l3n, Gil-1, Sn, Cu is two-valued, either on or 011, or 1 or 0. Again, using thelast notation, Table I may be transcribed as Table II for purposes of illustrating the operation ofthe apparatus of Figures 3.5;

i Table I1 i input Y Output I B" n-l n 0,.

l 0 3 l l 0 0 1 .o 2 l 1 0 0 0 1. 1 l l 0 l 1 O 2 0 1 l 0 1 7 2 0 l 1 o 1 --1 b 2 0 1 1 1 1 1 .s 1 1 P 0 0 0 Beam Out 0 0 0 Consideration of Table II shows that targets 2, 3, 4, and 5, 6, '7, respectively, may appropriately be connected together since each target of the first group represents a sum of l, and each target of the second group, a sum of 2. The center targetl, which always represents a sum anda carry, (in this case, 3), is connected over two unilateral coupling devices to and 4| to the carry and sum terminals. It will be understood that in the secondstage of the adder each inputand the sum output represents a value of 2, andthe fcarry, a value of 4, while in the third stage the respective-values'are 4 and '8, etc. Addition of two binary numbers by a chain 01 adders is illustratedin an example in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows schematically the input-output relations-of a chain of adders consisting of a series of cathode'ray tubes according to my inventiofr'i. All amplifiers and coupling networks are omitted since no claims are made for these circuits; The showing is similar to that of Figure'4 and merely makes it somewhat more clear that the input: to an'adding stage consists of a Value for a value" for B, and the carry over from the preceding stage, and that these three values areapplied to the deflecting plates of'a tube While the outputs of the tube (the sum and carry) are taken from the target electrodes.

The foregoing description is in specific terms, and many modificationsiwill suggest themselves so that for the true scope of the invention reference should be had to the appended claims.

, I claim: :1. In a cathode ray tube, means for generating a l cathode ray: bieam, a target electrode upon along another radius 120 4 which said beam normally impinges, first deflecting means adapted when activated to drive said beam a predetermined distance along a predetermined radius from said target electrode, second deflecting means adapted when activated to drive said beam from said target electrode from said firstmentioned radius, third deflecting means adapted when, activated to drive said beam radially from said target, electrode in another predetermined direction 120 from said other two radii, a further target electrode at the extremity of each or" said radial paths, and an additional target electrode substantially midway between each two of said further target electrodes.

2. In a cathode ray tube, means for generating a cathode ray beam, a target electrode upon which said beam is normally centered, a plurality of means for sweeping said beam in a plurality of difierent planes within' said tube each of said planes including said target electrode, a plurality of further target electrodes arranged within said tube there being a target electrode at the extremity of each of said sweeps, and means for connecting said further target electrodes in two groups each group comprising different alternate electrodes.

3. A cathode ray tube comprising means for generating a beam having a normal path, a target electrode, and deflecting means operative to direct said beamthereto, another'target electrode and deflecting'means operative to direct said beam thereto, a third target electrode and deflecting means operative to direct said beam thereto the said target electrodes being located at the vertices of an imaginary triangle lying in a plane perpendicular to the said normal path, and three other target electrodes located in the said plane each positioned between two of the first-mentioned target electrodes and positioned to be contacted by said beam when said beam is coacted upon by two of said deflecting means, means for connecting the first three-mentioned target electrodes to provide one output for the cathode ray tube, and means for connecting the second three-mentioned target electrodes to provide a second output for said cathode ray tube.

4. A cathode ray tube including a screen and means for generating a beam, three means for directing the beam outwardly from the center of the screen inplanes substantially 120 apart, a

target electrode substantially centered in said tube, and-six other target electrodes spaced about said first-mentioned target electrode and substantially at the corners of an imaginary hexagon each pair of opposed vertices thereof lying within a different one of the said planes.

HANS W. KOHLER.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patient: I

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

